Better than U2 live...

[MacPhistoPT]

Which bands you've seen live and you've enjoyed their live performance more than the U2 shows you attended so far...? (If any)

Until this day, for me, it's only Muse and Pearl Jam...

 

[impy13]

Sigur Ros
Wilco
The Arcade Fire
Broken Social Scene
The Rolling Stones


Sounds about right.

 

[PookaMacP]

My favourite gig, bizarrely, was Gillian Welch in Vicar St, Dublin in July 2004. A great gig made all the better by the fact that the support was Old Crow Medicine Show. It's a totally different kind of gig to a U2 gig, but if you pushed me to name a favourite gig, I think that'd have to be mine, just ahead of the first U2 Slane gig in 2001.

 

[Lancemc]

None yet. R.E.M. came closest though. But in the next year I'll (hopefully) be seeing Arcade Fire (already got my ticket..woot), Wilco and Radiohead.

So any of them definitely have the potential.

 

[U2Man]

i find it hard to compare. i'm always tremendously amused.

 

[BVS]

Pearl Jam has come close, but not there yet...

 

[Canadiens1131]

Arcade Fire in their hometown a few weeks ago. A lot of it was due to the circumstances, I admit. I am crazy about AF right now as I was crazy about U2 when I saw them on the Vertigo tour.

 

[Bonochick]

U2 ranks supreme for me, but the Rolling Stones come in a very close second.

 

[Pinball Wizard]

Even though I am more partial to U2, I found TOOL's performance during the Lateralus tour to be superior to the Elevation tour (of which I saw one show) and the bootleg/proper live releases of shows that I have heard dating back to Boy.

It surprised me too.

 

[Utoo]

No one touches U2 for me in terms of overall concert experience. However, The Polyphonic Spree, as corny as they may be, actually put on a show that really gets you wrapped up inside it.

 

[Idun]

I haven't been to so many concerts yet (because I live in a small place) and U2 was my first real concert I went to and I think U2 always will be the best live band for me. Maybe I will see a lot of other bands live in the future but this first U2 concert for me will always be something special.

 

[adrball]

I have two things that thank my dad for.

1. My existence
2. Queen: Elland Road, Leeds '82

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

Bruce and The Stones have both come extremely close, but to me personally, nothing beats a U2 show.

 

[JCOSTER]

U2 is still no.1 for me, a second would Springsteen and third would INXS.

 

[The OOTS]

Pink Floyd

 

[AtomicBono]

Even though I am more partial to U2, I found TOOL's performance during the Lateralus tour to be superior to the Elevation tour (of which I saw one show) and the bootleg/proper live releases of shows that I have heard dating back to Boy.

It surprised me too.

Tool... I'd kill to see Tool

So far the only band that has come close is Green Day. they're really energetic live and do a lot of crowd participation and stuff. but so far no one has beat out U2 for me. We'll see how good Bloc Party and Arcade Fire are.

 

[annie_vox]

To me the only band that has come close live was Muse. Though it's a completely different "spirit", the emotion I felt was close to a U2 concert.

 

[Harry Vest]

Neil Young (circa 1993 w/Pearl Jam, Soundgraden and Blues Traveller) at the CNE Stadium Toronto, Canada.
R.E.M. St. Paul, Minnesota 1987
The Clash St. Paul, Minnesota 1982
The Who Winnipeg, Canada 1976

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

I'd say tied for me with Bruce (especially with E Street), but sometimes I have enjoyed a Bruce show more and thought he was better. There are other influential factors such as annoying fans, etc.

 

[Dismantled]

U2 is number 1 for me, Pearl Jam and David Bowie are second.

 

[kakvox]

arcade fire

 

[Anu]

The last My Morning Jacket show I saw just about blew the ceiling off my best evers.

But there have been too many to name, really, and it all depends on too many factors.

I'll never forget the Fugazi/Op Ivy double bill I saw in the Bay Area in 89.

And then, I've been to underground shows of people you've never heard of that were pure shamanic ecstasy.

The RHCP/Smashing Pumpkins/Pearl Jam triple bill in the early 90s was over-the-top.

My first Dead show at Alpine Valley, Wisconsin in 1987 helped me 'get it' about jam bands and psychedelics.

Butthole Surfers/Scratch Acid in 85 was such adrenaline, such raw raw.

Then, of course, getting drunk with the Pogues is crazy, or practically burning down the venue with Crash Worship, what can top that?

I prefer to view these things horizontally, not vertically. Rock and roll is just great, you know?

 

[lmjhitman]

radiohead, arcade fire, wilco, and broken social scene have all come very close.

as much as i slag off their recent studio material, u2 have always been a top notch live show.

 

[GibsonGirl]

Roger Waters in 2006 stamped all over U2 in 2005. 99% of the songs performed at Roger's show were favourites of mine (can't say the same about U2 with all the HTDAAB in there.) The overall production was clearly superior (massive video screen with mind boggling visuals, fireworks, pyro, an inflatable astronaut and an inflatable pig vs. low resolution lightbulbs.) The show was much longer as well. I sat in about the same area for both shows - same venue, lower bowl, almost directly opposite the stage. At the U2 show, it looked like the people on the floor and in the ellipse were the ones having all the fun. Everyone was dead where I was sitting, despite me trying to enjoy it. At the Roger Waters show, however, there was barely a single person who wasn't into it. Everyone was singing, everyone was having a good time...regardless of where they were in the arena. The fact that the inflatables hovered right overhead in the seated sections off the floor sort of made you feel closer to the action, whereas with U2, all the action was directly in front of the stage.

 

[beegee]

if i had a choice to see only one or the other for the rest of my life - fiona apple or u2 - i would gladly never see u2 again.

 

[Earnie Shavers]

One from a bit left of field, but Michael Franti & Spearhead generate an energy and feeling in the crowd very naturally that U2 seem to pull more through theatrics. That's not a slight on U2, just a massive compliment to Franti.

For just a pure fun night out: Scissor Sisters are fantastic.

 

[xaviMF22]

Radiohead pwn U2 live....IMO

 

[tpsreports2424]

Kiss just because of the stage show..

the stones put on amazing show..

poison was fun...

and aerosmith

 

[bono_man2002]

I think Muse were better than U2 when I saw them twice at Festival Hall this year, though it's a bit of a different league to what U2 are in.
Roger Waters was absolutely amazing in concert too.

Evanescence, or rather Amy Lee and her band aren't too shabby live either!

Edit: Oh yes, Green Day...saw them twice in 2005...one stadium, one arena show...the arena show is the only concert i've left with my ears ringing, awesome!

 

[kafrun]

I've seen some pretty cool live shows, but Arcade Fire was the only show that compared to U2's. No one touches U2 live for me yet and I'll be amazed if they ever do.